WINNIPEG -- Stefan LeFors was on a Manitoba lake Thursday, competing in a charity fishing derby.

After his team hooked a couple of a walleye and a perch, LeFors got a text message from the Bombers' PR department informing him that he had snagged the biggest catch of the day: Winnipeg's No. 1 quarterback job.

"Now that's a keeper," LeFors said after he arrived back in Winnipeg late yesterday afternoon.

Four years after graduating from the University of Louisville, the 28-year-old lefthander is finally a starting quarterback at the pro level.

Bombers' field boss Mike Kelly acquired him from the Eskimos after coaching LeFors there last season.

"It's been a lot of hard work that I've put into this," LeFors said. "I'm going to keep working hard to make the most of this opportunity."

It should be pointed out that none of this is a real surprise. The writing was on the wall when Kelly traded for him in January - the same day he said Kevin Glenn's time in Winnipeg was all but over.

LeFors didn't know for sure that the gig was going to be his, but he had a good idea.

"It wasn't 100%. I was pretty confident that I was traded for to be brought here to be the guy, but I still had to come out here and pretty much prove it," LeFors said.

LeFors had a solid first two weeks of camp and looked to be in complete control against Hamilton on Wednesday.

"I was convinced of it a while ago, but he did a good job (Wednesday) night and did the things I expected him to do," Kelly said.

LeFors wasn't sure if he'd ever become a starter while being stuck behind all-star Ricky Ray in Edmonton.

"That thought had crossed my mind, definitely," LeFors said. "Being in Edmonton was a good place, but at the same time it was not a great spot for me to try and get something going in my career.